Beijing 144 Hours Free Visa Transit

169 thoughts on “Beijing 144 Hours Free Visa Transit”

1. Dear Sir, Madam,

   I have carefully read the instructions and information about the 72-hours transit free visa on the page. In particular, I read the following item:

   “Foreign airlines must contact Beijing Entry Frontier General Office to apply for 72 hours free transit visa for their passengers”

   How should I proceed if I arrive in Beijing with airline company A and if I leave from Beijing with airline company B, thus another company? I may of course have confirmed tickets for all travel segments, but will this be sufficient?

   Before hand I thank you very much for the information.

   With best regards,

2. Dear Deb,

   Thanks for your valuable time studying the 72-hour free-visa policy made by Beijing Government!

   Well, in general, it’s your airline’s responsibility to inform Beijing Entry Frontier General Office upfront for applying for your free-visa stay in Beijing. In your case, if you first take Airline A to Beijing and take the Airline B to a third country, you should ask Airline A to arrange your application for your 72 hours free-visa stay in Beijing.

   I think you have been well prepared for the 72-hour free-visa. Have a good time in Beijing!

3. Hello, can you answer this query for me please?

   I’m from UK.

   I booked flight from Taipei taoyuan Intl Apt (TAIWAN) to – Paris Charles De Gaulle Apt (FRANCE)

   with a connecting flight to Shijiazhuang Airport then Shanghai Pu Dong

   i would have stayed no more than 2 hours at Shijiazhuang because my connecting flight to Shanghai was right after it (Shanghai to Paris).

   However China Eastern refused to let me board the plane without a VISA to Shijiazhuang after speaking with immigration.

   They said i would have to buy another ticket direct to Shanghai in order to catch my flight to Paris (from Shanghai on original booking form).

   They also said that….normally i would not be allowed to use the 3rd flight on the booking form if i had not used the previous flights on the booking form.

   So they said they would let me use the 3rd flight (shanghai to paris) if i waived my right to a refund for the 2 previous flights (Taipei to Shijiazhuang and Shijiazhuang to Shanghai).

   So i felt i had to sign this form because i had no other choice…i wouldnt be able to get home.

   I am also left a lot of money out of pocket because i had to buy another arline ticket to Shanghai 🙁

   Is this all correct? Were they correct to refuse me entry on the plane to Shijiazhuang? Even though it was for a connecting flight and i would not be leaving the airport (flight to shanghai was within 2 hours and flight to Paris from Shanghai was a couple of hours afterwards)

   I find it kinda crazy that they will let me land at shanghai without a visa but they would not let me land at Shijiazhuang 🙁

   Given that i was only at the airport trying to get connecting flights – i dont understand why i would need VISA

4. Hello Chris，

   We fully understand your feeling and situation!

   Actually, your problem is simple: you don’t have a China Visa.

   You are not allowed to leave your plane on the flight from Taipei to Shijiazhuang because you don’t have a China visa since Shijiahzuang is a city in China. The flight between Taipei and Shijiazhuang is regarded as internatioal flight, but the flight from Shijiazhuang to Shanghai is a domestic flight. If you want to take the domestic flight from Shijiazhuang to Shanghai, you must go through cutoms and have China visa at Shijiazhuang airport, then change for domestic terminal at Shijiazhuang airport to take the domestic flight for Shanghai.

   At the moment, in China, there are only two cities that allow 72 hours free-visa transit including Shanghai and Beijing.

   Unfortunately, Shijiazhuang City is not entitled to 72 hours free-visa transit stay.

   So, in your case, you have to book a flight from Taipei to Shanghai ( allowing free visa ) and connect your next flight for Paris if you book your flight that transits at Shanghai instead if direct flight from Taipei to Paris.

   We are not China aviation officials, just travel agency staff and what we have said above is just for your reference.

5. Hi thanks for your reply. I guess its my fault for not checking and double checking. Though admittedly when i was checking the internet for answers on the visa situation i did get conflicting answers. Just didnt expect that the visa conditions for entering a country are different depending which city you enter.

   When i read this i thought i would be fine:

   ———————————————–

   (4) Foreigners who have confirmed onward tickets and seats on international flights and directly transit through China and stay for no more than 24 hours within the airport boundaries shall not need to apply for a transit visa. Anyone desiring to go beyond the airport boundaries temporarily should obtain permission from the frontier inspection office.

   Foreigners who are travelling on connected international flights with confirmed seats and transit through two or more cities in China by civil flights in no more than 24 hours shall not need to apply for a transit visa. However, permission from the frontier inspection office must be obtained.
   ——————————————————–

   The last paragraph seems to apply to me and yet i was still not allowed on the plane. Should i not have been allowed on the plane and then get permission from the frontier inspection office?

6. Hello Chris,

   In China, only Beijing and Shanghai can offer 72 hours visa free transit in order to attract international tourists.

   If you could fly from Taipei to Shijiazhuang, then continue to fly from Shijiazhuang to Paris, then you would stay within Shijiazhuang Airport for 24 hours without visa for transit flight.

   But there is no international flight from Shijiazhuang to Paris, you have to fly again from Shijiazhuag to Shanghai, and fly from Shanghai to Paris, so you are not elgible to 24 hours in Shijiazhang airport.

   It is first time for us to learn about the last paragraph. Is the last paragraph from the official document?

7. My bf (a Canadian citizen) and I (a US Immigrant fr. the Philippines) will be flying from The US the the Philippines in September and would like to visit Beijing for 4D/3N. Questions: Would I be needing a transit visa? If so, how can I get one from here (U.S.). Also, we will have 4 luggages with us. Do we have to check them out in Beijing and check them in again for our connecting flight to the Philippines? Thank you.

8. Hello L.Jose,

   If you are a US citizen (having a US passport) and your boyfriend is a Canadian citizen and you both have flights for Philippines via Beijing ( US or Canada) – Beijing – Philippines air-tickets), then you are eligible for 72 hours free-visa transit stay in Beijing. Please contact your airline ( from US to Beijing airline) to apply for your free-visa stay in Beijing. Yes, you have to have your luggage checked out and in.

9. hi, my husband and i are doing it in reverse.

   we are first flying from new york to hong kong (to spend a few days), then flying to beijing on may 19 and leaving on may 23rd to san francisco.

   do we qualify for the 72 hours free visa transit?

   thank you, sandy

10. Hello Sandy,

    If you fly from Hong Kong to Beijing, then to San francisco, you are eligible for the 72 hours free visa stay in Beijing. Ask your Hong Kong- Beijing airline for applying for the free transit visa in Beijing

11. hi
    we are flying from JFK ,USA to Hong Kong to Beijing then to Yangon, Myanmar with transfer at HK

    are we qualify for the 72 hours free visa transit ?

12. Hello Kim Lee,

    Yes, you are entitled to the 72-hours free-visa stay in Beijing. Please ask your airline (from Hong Kong to Beijing) to arrange your free-visa stay in Beijing. Have a nice transit in Beijing!

13. Hi Admin,
    I’m an airline employee who flies standby on flights and an American/Australian citizen. I will be flying into Beijing for only 48 hours and then continuing onto Hong Kong. I’m the perfect candidate for the 72 hour visa except…..

    I have read that I must have a confirmed seat. I will have a ticket and booking number from Dragon Air that looks like any other reservation, but it will be standby. Some sources have said this will not suffice while applying for the 72 hr visa, even if it looks like a regular booking and I have all honest intentions not to stay beyond the 72hrs.

    If it doesn’t suffice, would I get into trouble if I book a regular refundable plane ticket before arriving into Beijing to show confirmed travel onwards to Hong Kong but I’ll also have the standby ticket? I’ll then try (hopefully successfully) to get onto one of the many standby flights. Will it upset customs if I show a confirmed flight upon entering PEK and leave on another flight within the 72 hour period. I don’t know if they monitor the onward flight info that closely or if they just care that I leave within 72 hours of the stamp

    Thank you for any help on this

14. Hello Ryan,

    Personally ( I just work for a travel agency in Beijing, not an official from the Customs ), I understand they just care that you leave within 72 hours of the stamp. Have a good transit stay in Beijing!

15. Hi!

    I’m hoping to take advantage of the 72 hour visas, but wanted to do both Beijing and Shanghai. I’m a US citizen living in Korea. I’m looking at PUS-PEK-HKG-PVG-PUS. I was wondering if this qualifies. If I book it all at once, is it still ok? Or should I book separately to and from Hong Kong via the 72Hour-eligible cities?

    Thanks a bunch!

16. Hello Sean,

    If you book PUS-PEK-HKG-PVG-PUS flights, I think you are eligible 72-hours visa free stays both in Beijing and Shanghai.

    1) Ask the airline from PUS to Pek for the Beijing’s free visa stay.
    2) Ask the airline from HKG to PVG for the Shanghai’s free visa stay.

17. My 14 hour layover is on my return flight home to the United States. I will be traveling from Bangkok, Thailand (the third country) to Beijing, then back to Los Angeles. Is the 72 hour Visa still applicable?

18. Hello Chelsea，

    yes, if you fly from Bangkok and transit in Beijing ( up tp 72 hours ), then continue to fly for the States, you are eligible for the free-visa stay 72 hours in Beijing. And you are from one for the 45 countries. Have a good transit stay in Beijing!

19. Hello!
    I fly for Beijing on Sunday and was given my flight itinerary 5 minutes ago… Noticing I have 8 hours of layover in Beijing!

    Being a Canadian citizen with a Chinese visa, what further process do I need to Exit/Enter the airport if I want to experience Beijing on my long layover?

    Best regards!
    – T

20. Hello Trevor,

    If you have Chinese visa, you are free to enter or exit within the official duration that you are allowed to stay in Beijing. Taxis, shuttle and airport express trains are available at the airport. Have a good time in Beijing!

    Beijing taxi:
    http://www.tour-beijing.com/taxi/

    Beijing airport express trains:
    http://www.tour-beijing.com/travel_blog/beijing_china_sightseeing/beijing_airport_express_train.php

    Beijing Layover tours
    http://www.tour-beijing.com/short-tours/

21. I am flying from San Fancisco to Beijing then Hong Kong to SFO. Is Hong Kong considered to acquire the 72 hours transit free visa?

22. Hello Michelle,

    Yes, if you fly from the States to Hong Kong via Beijing, you are elegible for 72 hour visa free stay in Beijing. Enjoy your trip!

23. Does the 72 hours start from when you land at the airport or does it start when you are given the stamp of the visa?

24. Hello Ramon,

    As far as I know, it should start from the moment you have the stamp for your permit.

25. II am a canadian PR, travel with a Malaysia passport. I am flying from Singapore back to Toronto via Beijing. With a layover of 11hrs at Beijing. Can I make use of the 72 hour visa free during my layover to exit the airport and visit the Beijing city? Thanks

26. Hello TMHee,

    As far as I know, Canadian citizens with Canadian passports could make use of the 72 hour visa free stay. Malaysian citizens are not yet. You are a permanent resident in Canada, not a Canadian citizen with a Canadian passport, not elgible for the free visa stay.

27. I am a UK citizen travelling from London t via Beijing with China airlines to Tokyo, I wish to spend 3 days in Beijing, either on my way or on my way back , do I qualify for the free 72 hour transit visa and will China Air get me permission if I am? Thanks

28. Hello Christine，

    yes, you are eligible for the 72 hours visa free transit stay in Beijing. Please contact your airline (Air China ) for the free visa policy. Have a good time in Beijing!

29. Hello,

    I am flying from Los Angeles (USA) to Beijing to New Delhi. On the way to New Delhi, I will have 4 hours connection wait in Beijing and will wait at the airport. On the way back from New Delhi, I will have a connection time of 9 hours. Do I qualify for a 72 hours free visa? I am unclear, since your site says if going TO a third world country, but not coming back FROM a third world country. Could you clarify?

    Thank you!

30. Hello Etel,

    If you fly from New Delhi to Los Angeles (USA) via Beijing. You are eligible for 72 hours free-visa stay. Please contact the airline flying from New Delhi to Beijijng to apply for the free-visa.

31. I purchased a round trip ticket Tokyo to Hong Kong via Beijing (I want to do a stop over of 70 h in Beijing) Then coming back Hong-Kong to Tokyo via Beijing ( but no stop over). Do I qualify for the visa 72 h visa free policy on my outboud tiket Tokyo-Hong Kong via Beijing ?

32. Hello Silviu,

    Yes, you are eligible for72 hours free-visa transit stay in Beijing on the condition that you are from one of the 45 designated countries. Please contact your airline to apply for the free-visa transit stay. Have a good time in Beijing.

33. Hello

    I will be traveling through Beijing from the US in January. The layover is 8 hours and I would like to take a tour. Im I qualified for the 72 hour visa? Do I contact the airline now and have them to register me for the visa or should I wait until the trip is near?

34. Hello Nicole,

    If you are an American citizen flying to a third country via Beijing, you are eligible for the 72-hour free visa transit stay in Beijing. You can either contact your airline now or until your trip is near. I think you’d better contact your airline when your trip is near.

35. hello,
    i’m from Nigeria, I will be visiting the US by November but want to apply for Chinese transit visa so I can see a friend and also buy few things for myself. Can I use the transit visa on my way back from the US to Nigeria or must I go to China before United states?
    Please reply asap

36. Hello Miranda,

    Nigerian people are not eligible for Beijing 72 Hours Transit Free Visa. At the moment, only 45 countries are entitled to this free-visa policy. You are requested to go to Chinese embassy to apply for a Chinese visa.

37. Hello Nicole,

    In addition, you also can contact the airline when you check in at the counter in the airport when you are going to fly.

38. Hello,

    Me & my family are traveling from US to philippines next year. We are going to have a 14 hours Lay over in Beijing on our trip. We would like to take a tour in Beijing while we’re there. How or where can we get our transit free-visa?

39. Hello Dhen,

    If you are an American citizen flying from the States to Philippines via Beijing, you are eligible for up to 72 hours free-visa transit stay in Beijing. To get your transit free-visa is very simple. Just ask your airline ( from the states to Beijing ) to apply for the free-visa either at the time of air-ticket issuing or check-in at the airport when you are leaving the States. Have a good time in Beijing!

40. Hi!

    My & husband and I will travel from US to the Philippines in June. We are going to have a 15-hour layover in Beijing on our trip. I am still a Philippines citizen with a Philippine passport living in the United States. We are planning to go see The Great Wall while we’re there. Do I need to have a visa or do I fall in the category of Philippine passport holder exempted from visa requirement for temporary visits to China?

    Your quick response is highly appreciated. Thank you.

41. Hello Jean,

    Philippines citizens much have a Chinese tourist visa to visit China. Please kindly apply for China visa before departing for China. Have a good transit stay in Beijing!

42. Hi, is this schedule ok for 72 hours visa free?

    Depart Sydney 16 nov 1100
    Arrive Guangzhou 16 nov 1730
    Depart Guangzhou 16 nov 2100
    Arrive Beijing 17 nov 0015
    Depart Beijing 19 nov 0050

    I am british citizen with a biritish passport.

    Cheers, mark

43. Dear sir/ma’am

    Im from Philippines and im planning to go in Jeju. If ever my connecting flight is shanghai.. Is it possible that can
    i have a visa exempt.?

    Hoping for your response.

    Thanks and best regards.

44. Hello Jenelyn Dagohoy,

    If you just connect your flight within Shanghai airport, you don’t need a visa; if you want to go out of Shanghai airport, you still need a Chinese tourist visa.

45. Hello Mark,

    No, your schedule is not ok. You must fly to a third country, not a second city with China.

    1. Sydney – Guangzhou – a third country ( ok )

    2. Sydney – Beijing – a third country ( ok )

    Not ok: Sydnesy – Guangzhou – Beijing – a third country ( not allowed for a free visa transit )

46. Hello there,

    I am a US permanent resident holding Indonesian passport.
    Next month I am travelling from US to Singapore
    Do I need a visa to enter Beijing if I just want to do stop over for 23 hours?
    I would like to have a day lay over tour.

    Thank you

47. Hello Ruth,

    Yes, you still need a visa to visit China since you are not a US citizen with an American paasport.

48. Hello,
    I am a bit confused as I hear different things from different websites.

    We are flying from Singapore to San Francisco (via Beijing) Singapore to Beijing is on Singapore Airlines and Beijing to San Francisco is on Air China. We have a 8.5 hour layover and we have already booked a Great Wall Tour. The tour operator told us that we don’t need to go through any of the airlines but that we just need to go to the 72 hours free Visa service desk. We can show our passports (US passport holders) and connecting air tickets with confirmed seats to them. We then get a stamp on our passport and with that we can leave the airport for the tour.

    When I called Singapore Airlines about having them apply for a visa, they had no idea what I was talking about.

    Please advise.

    Regards,

    Hal

49. Hello Hal,

    The staff at the Singapore Airlines office you have called maybe don’t know the policy. We suggest you go to the Singapore Airlines counter at Singapore airport when you check in to apply for the free-visa stay in Beijing.

    Please show the official link below to the Singapore airline concerned:

    http://en.bcia.com.cn/server/notice/72visafree/72visafree_policy.shtml

50. Hello,

    I have a flight from Helsinki, Finland to the final destination Singapore. I´m a Finnish citizen with a Finnish passport. I was not sure if I need to apply a visa in advance or not or if the 72 hour transit visa is applicable me?

    My flight schedule is following:
    Depart Helsinki 20 dec 17:20
    Arrive Shanghai 21 dec 08:20
    Depart Shanghai 21 dec 11:30
    Arrive Beijing 21 dec 13:55
    Departure Beijing 21 dec 15:25
    Singapore

    I understand that the flight between Shanghai and Beijing is a domestic flight but for some reason I cannot find the answer to this question from the Chinese embassy page in Finland.

    Thanks for your help in advance!

    Br, Hanna

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